OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Michigan environmental regulators threatened Oakland County with fines and penalties over repeated raw sewage discharges into the Red Run Drain, escalating a long-running dispute between Oakland and Macomb counties over water management.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) issued an enforcement notice citing Oakland County for violating state environmental laws.
The notice specifically referenced two incidents: an April 2025 discharge of 1.18 million gallons and an August 2023 release of 2.2 million gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage.
Environmental Impact and Infrastructure Challenges
The controversy centers on the Red Run Drain in Madison Heights, where outdated infrastructure struggles to handle heavy rainfall.
During severe weather events, the system releases excess water and sewage to prevent basement flooding in Oakland County, but the discharge flows into Macomb County’s Clinton River and Lake St. Clair.
Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller discovered evidence of the environmental impact years ago.
“We found sanitary wipes, condoms and tampons in shrubs and trees along the banks of the Red Run,” Miller told Local 4 in May.
Regulatory Intervention
EGLE’s June 27 enforcement notice demands immediate action from Oakland County. The state agency requires the county to:
- Review hydraulic models to identify high-infiltration areas
- Evaluate system capacities and limitations
- Assess operational changes in the George W. Kuhn Drainage District
- Develop a plan to prevent future overflow
Political Tensions Mount
Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash defended his county’s position, arguing for a regional approach to the problem.
“Without this regional approach Oakland County, Macomb County and Southeast Michigan will continue to be faced with the prospect of sewage overflows and basement backups due to extremely heavy rainfall,” Nash said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Local 4 spoke to Anne Vaara, Chief Water Resources Commissioner for Oakland County.
She also pushed for a regional solution.
“Quite frankly, Candice Miller politicizing this is unproductive, and it serves no good purpose,” Vaara said. “We’d rather have a seat at the table and work together with our partners.”
Miller countered that statement, saying, “I really don’t understand why they are attacking me politically because it’s not just me – obviously the state regulators are also not buying into this.”
Miller called EGLE’s notice a win for the region.
“We are moving the needle ever so slowly, and fortunately, EGLE, the state regulators, are going to be doing their job and regulate what is clearly a violation of the Clean Water Act,” she said.
Future Implications
EGLE’s enforcement action could result in substantial fines and requires Oakland County to submit detailed plans by July 28 for addressing the overflow issues.
Oakland County has requested a meeting with EGLE.
EGLE Enforcement Notice Oakland County WRC by snpowers on Scribd